Chino Swarms Past North on Strength of Defense

Chino High won its first football championship since 1948 with a 19-7 victory over Riverside North Friday night in the Southern Section Division IV championship game before 5,000 at Citrus College.

Senior running back Josh Levi gained 195 yards in 37 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of six and three yards.

Chino (13-1) held North (12-2) to 132 yards of total offense. The Cowboys had a 19-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“We played great defense tonight; actually we played great defense the past four or five games,” Chino Coach John Monger said. “We call it ‘swarm’ defense. We concentrated on stopping their quarterback.”

North quarterback Danny Garcia completed only five of 22 passes for 41 yards and one pass intercepted.

North had a chance to get back in game with 3:50 left. But on a third-and-21 at Chino’s 35 yard-line, Chino defensive back Jason Merandi intercepted Garcia’s pass in the end zone.

Tyron Ervin scored North’s only touchdown on a one-yard run with 7:43 remaining.

Chino beat Riverside Poly, Alta Loma, Canyon Springs and North en route to the title.